Cascade Tunnel

Cascade Tunnel
The eastern portal of Cascade Tunnel in 2012
Overview
LineBNSF Scenic Subdivision (formerly Burlington Northern and Great Northern)
LocationStevens Pass, Washington, U.S.
Coordinates47°44′33″N 121°04′10″W / 47.74250°N 121.06944°W / 47.74250; -121.06944
StatusActive
CrossesCascade Range,
near Stevens Pass
Operation
Opened1929, 95 years ago[1][2]
TrafficRailroad
CharacterPrimarily freight service
Some passenger service (Amtrak)
Technical
Length7.80 miles (12.55 km)
No. of tracksSingle
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Highest elevation2,881 feet (880 m)
Route map
Map

The Cascade Tunnel refers to two railroad tunnels, its original tunnel and its replacement, in the northwest United States, east of the Seattle metropolitan area in the Cascade Range of Washington, at Stevens Pass. It is approximately 65 miles (105 km) east of Everett, with both portals adjacent to U.S. Route 2. Both single-track tunnels were constructed by the Great Northern Railway.

The first was 2.63 miles (4.23 km) in length and opened in 1900 to avoid problems caused by heavy winter snowfalls on the original line that had eight zig zags (switchbacks). The current tunnel is 7.8 miles (12.6 km) in length and entered service in early 1929,[1][2] approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of and 500 feet (150 m) lower in elevation than the original. The present east portal is nearly four miles (6.5 km) east of the original and is at 2,881 feet (878 m) above sea level, 1,180 feet (360 m) below the pass. The tunnel connects Berne in Chelan County on its east with Scenic Hot Springs in King County on its west and is the longest railroad tunnel in the United States.

  1. ^ a b "Great tunnel opening ready". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. January 12, 1929. p. 1.
  2. ^ a b "Wheels thunder in wonder bore". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). January 13, 1929. p. 1, part 1.